1. Policy Statement
At Family Promise of Puget Sound, your safety and well-being are our top priority. This policy outlines the steps we will take to ensure the safety of our individuals and their families if we receive information suggesting they are experiencing homelessness or are in a dangerous situation. Our commitment is to proactively reach out and, if necessary, involve appropriate resources to confirm your well-being and offer support.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all individuals currently enrolled in or recently exited from Family Promise of Puget Sound programs, where concerns about their safety, housing status, or well-being arise. It applies to all FPOPS staff involved in individual support and case management.
3. Guiding Principles
* Individual Safety First: The primary goal is to ensure the immediate safety and well-being of our individuals and their families.
* Proactive Outreach: We will take active steps to establish contact when concerns arise.
* Respect for Privacy: We will balance the need for safety with respect for individual privacy, escalating interventions only when necessary.
* Collaborative Approach: We will work collaboratively with individuals, their emergency contacts, and, if required, local authorities.
* Transparency: Individuals will be informed of these procedures upon entering our program.
4. Definitions
* Individual: An individual or family currently receiving services from Family Promise of Puget Sound or who has recently exited our programs.
* Dangerous Situation: A circumstance where a individual or their family may be at immediate risk of harm, exploitation, or severe distress.
* Welfare Check: A procedure initiated by Family Promise of Puget Sound to ascertain the safety and well-being of a individual when direct contact cannot be established and concerns for their safety exist.
* Emergency Contact: An individual designated by the individual who can be contacted in case of an emergency or if the individual cannot be reached directly.
5. Welfare Check Procedures
If Family Promise of Puget Sound receives information or has reason to believe that a individual is experiencing homelessness or is in a dangerous situation, the following steps will be taken:
1. Direct Outreach (Initial 3 Business Days):
* FPOPS staff will make immediate and sustained efforts to reach out to the individual directly through all available contact channels (e.g., primary phone number, secondary phone number, email, text message).
* These attempts will be documented, including dates, times, and methods of contact.
2. Contacting Emergency Contact (After 3 Business Days):
* If direct contact with the individual cannot be established after three (3) business days of consistent attempts, FPOPS staff will then contact the individual’s designated emergency contact to inquire about the individual’s safety and well-being.
* All attempts to reach the emergency contact will be documented.
3. Involving Local Authorities (If Unsuccessful):
* If attempts to reach both the individual and their emergency contact are unsuccessful, and concerns for the individual’s safety persist, Family Promise of Puget Sound may involve local authorities (e.g., local law enforcement or social services) to request a welfare check at the individual’s last known location.
* This step will be taken only when all other reasonable attempts to confirm safety have failed and there is a credible concern for the individual’s well-being.
* All communication with local authorities will be documented.
6. Individual Acknowledgment
By signing the Family Promise of Puget Sound documents, individuals are confirming their understanding of and agreement to these Welfare Check procedures. This acknowledgment signifies consent for Family Promise of Puget Sound to take the outlined steps, including contacting emergency contacts and, if necessary, local authorities, to ensure their safety and well-being.
7. Responsibilities
* Case Managers/Individual Support Staff: Responsible for initiating and documenting welfare check procedures, maintaining accurate individual contact information, and communicating concerns to their supervisor.
* Program Directors: Responsible for overseeing welfare check procedures, providing guidance to staff, and approving the involvement of local authorities when necessary.
* CEO: Provides overall oversight of the policy and ensures compliance.
8. Confidentiality
All information gathered and actions taken during a welfare check will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, consistent with Family Promise of Puget Sound’s Confidentiality Policy and applicable laws, while balancing the need to ensure individual safety.
9. Policy Review and Revision
This policy will be reviewed annually by the CEO and Program Directors, or more frequently as needed, to ensure its continued effectiveness and alignment with best practices and legal requirements.